Filing-case.



M. L. WHITCOMB.

FILING GASE.

APPLIUATION PILBD'MAY ze, 1912.

1,073,198. l Patented sept. 16,1913.

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FILING CASE.

^ APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

1,073,198; Patented sept. 16,1913.

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WITNESSES: INI/ENTOI? im; @M i Mfwm.

A TTRNE Y MARCELLUS L. WHITCOMB, QF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

. `1 FILING-criss.

SpecieationV of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 16, 1913.

Application led May 29,1912. Serial No. TCO/110.

' To aZZ rwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, MARonLLUs L. VHIT- coMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county o-f King and State of ll/Tashington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Filing-Cases, of which the `following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ling cases, which are adapted for tiling papers comprising debit slips, invoices or other documents and the object of my irnprovement is to provide a device comprising a combination of receptacles adapted for ling such papers which combination Of receptacles may be used also as a sample case within which may be arranged a plurality of small articles comprising samples of merchandise such as Vpieces of textile fabrics, jewelry and the like. I attain this object by devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in perspective elevation of my invention, Fig. 2 is a view in perspective elevation of the same wherein one of its parts is shown as swung outwardly in a vertical posit-ion whereby its contents may be inspected, Fig. 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal-section, of details of my invention, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the form of construction of other details of my invention, Fig. 5 is a view in perspective elevation of my invention showing one of its parts swung outwardly and downwardly so that its plane is horizontal whereby its contents may be exposed for inspection, Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of parts of my invention showing portions in longitudinalsection and other portions in vertical elevation, Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical-section of a detail of my invention while Fig. 8 is a likeview of a modified form of same detail, and Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary views showing relative normal `positions of parts of my invention.-

Like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Briefly my invention comprises a plurality of holding plates, preferably of rectangular form the edges of each of which areprovided with flanges extending from both of its sides, while each side of each holding plate may be divided into a suitable number of compartments by projecting ridges, which compartments may be adapted, by

Vand outwardly edgewise till l2 and means of a spring-clip associated therewith, to hold papers or other articles having a thin flat shape, as maybe required, all of said holding plates normally being disposed adjacent one to another, side by side, each in a vertical plane, and each being hinged or swingingly attached at one of its normally vertical edges to a tubular shaft about which it may turn or swing sidewise, which shaft -at its lower end is itself swingingly hinged to a fixed horizontal pivot-rod upon which same pivot-rod all such holding plates, in, a like manner, are also hinged, whereby any desired one of such plates, first, may be swung upwardly from the others its normally vertical sides are horizontal, in which positio-n it may be detained by a spring-like catch, or it may then be turned sidewise to incline in either direction to any desired' angle to permit the better inspection of its contents. j A

Obviously, each of the compartments on both sides of a holding plate may be numbered or otherwise indicated and-each of all such plates thus associated also may be numbered or marked whereby any paper or other article contained in a particular compartment may be located quickly by reference to an index card. Plates thus grouped, if desired., may be deposited in an inclosing case for oflice use or may be placed in a special traveling case, as when employed by a traveling salesman for displaying samples. i Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, each holding plate 12, of the group of six shown, is hinged at its lower right-hand corner independently to turn or swing upwardly and outwardly edgewise on a hollow pivot-rod 13 whose ends project through and are secured by brackets 14 bolted to the supporting base 15.

Y A flange 16 projecting on each side of each holding plate 12 extends along the upper, lower and left-hand edges of said plate such flange 16, o-n the underside of the lower left-hand corner of said plate 12, is provided with an A shaped slot 17 adapted to engage with an A shaped projection 18 formed on a cross strip 19. whereby said A shaped slot, co-acting with the A shaped projection may serve to guide and center said plate 12 as it descends into its normal position to rest on and be supported by said cross strip 19.

Figs. 9 and 10 by enlarged fragmentary views show more clearly the fianges 16, A shaped slot 1T, the A shaped projection 18 and cross strip 19.

The area on each side of a holding plate 12 may ce partitioned to form compartments ot desired area by ribs 2O which may project from the said plate 12 to a distance equal to the depth oit the flange 16.

1V have shown sixteen compartments on the sides of the holding plates 12 but any number may be provided as may be required.

Fig. 4 shows so clearly one plan of fastening said ribs 20 to the opposite sides of a Vplate that further description of such plan is unnecessary.

Each ot' the holding plates 12, with re spect to its normal position, as shown in 1, has its vertical right-hand edge rolledinto the form of a tube (as shown more clearly in cross-sectional view by Fig. G where said plate 12 is shown as turned edgewise toV a position Where such tubular i formed edgev is horizontal.) which surrounds and secures two' short pieces of tube 22 disposed therewithin at each end and these two short pieces of tube 22 are mounted freely to turn on a tube 23 oismaller diameter and ot a lengt-h equal to the length of the tube 21 formed on the edge of said plate 12, whereby the said plate 12 Vmay swing or turn, as on a hinge, in a sidewise direction about the tube 23.

The tube 23 is secured at one end to a hinge-member 24 by means of a screwthreadcd shank 25 which pro-jects from one side of the hingemember 24. Secured to the upper side of hinge-member 24 (as shown in Fig. 6) is a flattened metal spring 2G which extends upwardly for a distance equal to about halt` the length of a side of a holding plate 12 and Which is provided, at a point near its upper end, with a rounded projection 27 which is adapted to engage with a depression or hole 28 in the flanged edge of the holding plate 12, normally to sustain the said plate 12 in a vertical plane, thus to prevent the mere Weight of said plate 12 from turning it sidewis'e on the tube 23 but permitting it to be turned by force of ones hand. p

Six of the holding plates 12, each thus mounted to turn onV tube 23 which is secured to the hinge-member 24 in the manner described, are disposed side by side, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the pivot-rod 13 Vextends through the hinge-members 24 While said pivot-rod 13 is mounted With its ends secured in and supported by the brackets 14 to prevent a length-Wise movement of said plates 6 and their hinge-members 24 on the pivot shaft 13 While permitting an edgewise turning movement .of any one of the said plates 12 and its hingeui'ember 24 about the pivot-rod 13.

A given group or series of any number of the holding plates 12 may have any desired number of plates added to it, or it may be reduced in number by increasing or decreasing the length ot the cross strip 19 and increasing or decreasing the length of the pivotrod 13 accordingly.

In Fig. 3 1 have illustrated one plan of constructing the pivot-rod 13 so that its length may be changed readily, wherein a pivot-rod like the pivot-rod 13, is shown as having been doubled in length to adapt it to serve for double the number ofholct ing plates 12. In such Fig. 3 a length ot the tube 29, which may serveras a pivot shaft for a certain number ot holding plates 12, is tapped with a screwthread inieach end to adapt it to engage and hold the threaded shank of a pivot 30, or the shank of a connecting nipple 31 that may serve to connect said tube 29 with another tube 32 whereby a pivot-rod comprising Vtwo such tubes 29 and 32 shall be double the length toserve for doublel the number of holding plates 12.V

rlhe shank of another `pivot 33 isscrewed into o-ne end of the connected tubes 29 and 32 while theshank of a pivot 30 is screwed into the other end thereof as shown.

Obviously, by separating the tubes 29 and 32 and removing the connecting nipple 31 and substituting therefor pivots like the pivots 30 and 33, there may be made tWo complete pivot-rods, each of halt thelength.

Thus a pivot-rod may be increased or decreased in length as may be required to serve for any desired number of holding plates. Y'

Referring to Fig. 6 in each of the several compartments on the side area of a holding plate shown by the fragmentary view thereof, I have indicated a form of spring-clip 34' adapted to hold a paper orother article within such compartment.

Referring tovFigs. 7 and 8, each-illustrates, by V cross-sectional view, a plan of providing the flanges around the edges of the holding plates 12. lAs shown in Fig. 7 the material comprising the holding plate 12 is bent and folded double,.as indicated, to form a flange 16 onV each side While a modified plan is shown in Fig. S lwherein theedge 'of the material v.comprising a holding plate 12 is bent at rightangles to form a flange on. oneV side, to which flange a strip is riveted, as indicated, to form flanges of suitable extent on each side ot the hold-V ing plate 12. y

Manifestly the holding plates 12 may be made ot iron, Wood, compressed fiber or other sutiable material and they may be ot any required dimensions. Such holding plates 12 also may be divided by partitions of any depth into any required number of compartments to adapt such compartments to serve as receptacles for a desired purpose and the plan of construction of various details may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The operation of my invention may be readily understood by contemplating Figs. 1-2 and 5. Fig. 1 illustrates a filing case, embodying my invention, with its several holding' plates 12 disposed in their normal positions close together and side by side. lt' it be desired to inspect the contents of one of the holding plates such plate may be swung in an edgewise direction toward the right-hand upwardly and outwardly to 1 assume a vertical position indicated by F ig.

2 in which position it will be sust-ained by the action of the spring 26 which serves to 'press the projection 27 into the hole 28 in the edge of the holding plate 12 as hereinbefore described. If it now be desired to turn the holding plate 12 sidewise to incline it to any desired angle for the better inspeelt-ion of its contents, then a sidewise pressure of ones hand will serve to disengage the spring 26 whereupon the holding plate 12 may turn to a horizontal posit-ion as illustrated in Fig. 5 or it may be supported bythe hand at any angle as desired. Thus each of the holding plates 12 may be withdrawn from the others to inspect the contents of their different compartments by reason of the action of the universal-joint which unites all of them to the supporting base 15, and which operates in the manner hereinbefore described.

lVhat l claim is:

1. VIn a filing-case of the class described, the combination with a pluralityof holding plates each of which plates is provided with strips of sheet metal which are secured to the surfaces of said plate to project edgewise therefrom, some of which strips are disposed vertically while others are disposed horizontally thereon to form a plurality of compartments for papers, and further provided with a spring clip disposed in each of said compartments whereby papers may be secured therein, of a pivot shaft associated with and common to all of said holding plates and whereon each of said holding plates independently may be turned in an edgewise direction, said pivot shaft being adapted to be extended in length by uniting with it another like structure.

2. In a filing-case of the class described, the combination with a plurality of holding-plates, of a plurality of shafts upon each of which is mounted freely one of said holding-plates wherebv such holding-plate may swing freely sidewise on and about said shaft, detent means associated with each of said shafts and the holding-plate thereon whereby such holding-plate may be sustained at one circumferential position on such shaft, a hinge member associated with one end of each of said shafts and with said detent means and a suitably supported shaft upon which all of said hinged members may be mounted freely to swing thereon whereby each holding-plate may, independently, be caused to swing edgewise and sidewise.

In a filing case of the class described, the combination with a holding-plate, of a Shaft upon which said holding-plate is hinged freely to be turned sidewise, another suitably supported shaft with which one end of said first named shaft is articulated to swing in a plane that is at right angles to the axis of said second shaft, and detent means associated with said first named shaft and adapted to engage with said holdingplate releasably lto sustain said holdingplate with its plane in a position at right angles to said second named shaft.

In witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of April A. D., 1912.

MARCELLUS L. WHITCOMB.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BLAIR, A. G. HAsKrNs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

